Adjustable highchair



Sept. 6, 1955 R. H. THATCHER ADJUSTABLE HIGHCHAIR 2 Sheets-Sheet l Filed July 19, 1954 INVENToR TH www @L QALPH u l v ATTORNEY Sept. 6, 1955 R. H. THATCHER 2,717,027

ADJUSTABLE HIGHCHAIR Filed July 19, 1954 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 JNVENTOR. RALpH Ll. TH Mcm- R ATTOQNEY United States Patent P"ce ADJUSTABLE HIGHCHAIR Ralph H. Thatcher, Claremont, Calif.

Application July 19, 1954, Serial No. 444,109

14 Claims. (Cl. 155-115) This invention relates to a new and improved adjustable highchair. Reference is made to my co-pending patent application Ser. No. 214,867, filed March l0, 1951 for adjustable highchair, now Patent No.2,691,41l, granted October 12, 1954. The present invention has particular application to a highchair which may be adjusted for the size of the occupant so that the child is correctly and comfortably seated. The invention is important in providing means for adjusting the chair as a child grows or for use in restaurants and the like where children of different ages may occupy the chair.

In prior adjustable chairs it has been the practice to provide separately adjustable backrests, armrests, seats, or footrests, or combinations of the foregoing adjustments. In my prior application I disclosed means whereby the backrest was moved forwardly and rearwardly as the footrest was raised and lowered. The present invention provides a construction whereby with a single adjustment, the seat may be slid rearwardly and forwardly relative to the stationary frame and backrest as the footrest is elevated or depressed. The sliding movement of the seat and the elevation of the footrest are in a definite relationship which follows the normal growth pattern of an infant. justable parts is inter-related by linkages to provide proper support as the body and limbs of the child grow at any stage of development.

It is an important feature of the present invention that provision is made for comfortably seating the child during meal, play or rest periods so that his physical and mental development will not be hindered by a sense of physical discomfort or instability. Accordingly, the present invention eliminates the use of cushions and books and other devices which have frequently been employed in order to adjust conventional highchairs to children of different sizes and which frequently become displaced.

This invention provides a simple adjustment of the footrest which simultaneously and automatically adjusts the position of the seat relative to the frame and backrest in such manner as to quickly, safely and comfortably accommodate an occupant through a wide range of ages and sizes.

The chair is simple in construction, has a minimum of moving parts and is light in Weight by reason of its tubular metal construction and presents a modern, streamlined appearance. The chair may be easily cleaned, an important advantage in infants chairs.

One of the most important objects of the present invention is the provision of a highchair which adjusts for rapidly growing children and does not require theuse of pillows or other compensating devices to accommodate the chair to the growth of the child, thereby encouraging a general psychological improvement in the attitude of the child toward meals.

Still another object of the present invention is the facility with whichit may be adapted to use in restaurants where, by a very simple adjustment of the position The movement of the ad- 2,717,027 Patented Sept. 6, 1955 ofthe footrest the chair may be adjusted for various different sizes of infants.

Other objects of the present invention will become apparent upon reading the following specification and referring to the accompanying drawings in which similar characters of reference represent corresponding parts in each of the several views.

In the drawings:

Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a highchair illustrating the maximum and minimum adjustment positions, in solid and dot-and-dash lines, respectively.

Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the structure of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary sectional view taken substantially along the line 3-3 of Fig. l.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional View showing the means whereby the footrest is locked into position relative to the legs of the frame.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation, similar toFig. 1, of a modified chair.

Fig. 6 is a front elevation of the structure of Fig. 5.

Fig. 7 is a side elevation, similar to Fig. l, of still another modification of the invention.

Fig. 8 is a front elevation of the structure of Fig. 7.

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of still another modification of the invention.

As shown in Figs l and 2, the present invention comprises a stationary frame having front and rear legs, a backrest fixed to the frame and an armrest. The frame is made up of three major members formed of tubing. The main frame member 11 is bent in U shape in front elevation and an elongated S shape in side elevation,

providing on each side of the chair a front leg 12 having a curved upper portion13, horizontal seat mounting portion 14 above the curved portion and a vertical portion 16 above the horizontal portion which supports the backrest 17. The tube is bent in a horizontal stretch 18 across the top of the backrest and down on the other side in a complementary shape. On either side of the chair is a rear leg 19 which extends diagonally upward and is joined to the main frame member by a rivet 21, the tubing being bent outward in offsets 22 to clear the intersection with the main frame member 11. The upper ends of the rear legs 19 are joined to horizontal armrests 23, the rear ends of which are welded to vertical stretches 16 of the main frame so that the five members 11, 19 and 23 comprise a rigid unit. It will be noted that the lower ends of the legs 12 and 19 are flared outwar'dly to prevent tipping.

The seat 26, which in the present instance is horizontally slidable, is provided with members 27 on either side edge having horizontal slots 2S and enlarged recesses 29-within, which comprise ,trackways Rivets 21 are formed with enlarged heads 32 on their inner ends which it'inside the slots 28 and are held within the trackways 29. Second rivets 33 passing through the forward end of the horizontal portion 14 of the main frame member 11 likewise have enlarged heads 32 which iit within the trackways 28. Rivets 21 and 23 are substantially in horizontal alignment so that the seat 26 is supported and may slide horizontally. f

A footrest 36 extending between the front legs 12 is pivotally connected by pins 37 to levers 38 on either sideof the chair, the opposite ends of the levers 38 being pivotally connected by means of transverse rod 39 to the rear legs 19. Levers 38, as shown-in Fig. l are bent 26 `rearwardly relative to7 theframe-and'fbackrest Their relationship is such that when the nfootre'ste36fisfelevated' to accommodate a small childfthe :frontedgefofzthe:seat

26 is closest. to .thebackrestvll Onthe otherhandfwherrl` the footrestA 36.- is Vvlowered tovaccornmodatelthe flongerff legs of a largerchild, the fronti-edgefof the-.seatwis'slidy forwardly correspondingly.

Various means may be employed to-lock the footrest inrposition; As shown in the yaccompanying:dran/ings; a

series of spaced holes yA16 is .-forrn'edt onf-.the inside :ofI the@` curved portion of .the legs,v Elongatedpins'STwhich connect levers v318 to thefootrestare -held yby depending" apertured brackets 47. Helical-springs -48surrounding pi'n's 37 are interposed betweenifinner :brackets 47- and-fcollars 49 iixed onf pins 37, thus-biasing=--the pins outwardly. Finger holds .51 on the Vinnerendsofthe 'pins' 37, located in close proximity, are employedtto retract the-pins from theholes 46 whenmadjustment is requiredi* Thus, in operation when it is desired to adiustvthe responding new holes in the front legs. Asftheffoot'rest is elevated or depressed, the seat 26 is moved rearward or forwardly and hence proper-adjustment. ofuthef depth of seat for the positionof-the footrestis automatically-ao complished.

In Figs. v5 ando a modied construction is employed-.tll It will be understood thatthe` frame of-Figs 5 and' 'mayf be made similar to thatl of Fig; 1 if desiredyand that Van armrest may be employed. In any of thefmodiiications` illustrated herein, conventional highchair' trays (not shown) may be installed.

In the particular embodiment ofthe iframe shown in Figs. 5 and 6 the front'legs .56fare separate pieces of tub; ing and are curved upwardly rearWardlyfand-fwelded to the rear legs 57. Thetrear legs arewelded to backrest 58 4so -that the backrest, rear legsand front. legs Vform 'a rigid unit. Inwardly projecting, horizontally alignedy studs-1 59.0n the upper ends of the front legs have enlarged heads 61 on their inner'ends similar to heads 32 whiehwit within:

slots'62-on'the side edges tof` horizontal seat member- 64. Thus, seat member 64 may slideforwardlyand'rear# wardly relative-to the stationary frame."

A pair of rigid,` depending membersi' von opposite sides of the seat are attached by pivots- 67 to forwardly extending links 68, the forwardIends-"ofwhich are connected to the upper ends of 'hangers 69'for footrest 71E z I'he legs 56 are bent in'curved portions 72 andfareiprof'- vided on their insides with vspaced holes 73. Various means may be employed to latch the yfootrest relative'tot- As shown in Figs-5 and 6 a pin'76 havingnu the frame.

an enlarged knob 77 on each side ofthe chair'passes through the point of connection between the link'andsAGO the hanger 69 is biased outwardly by spring 78. Byipull-: ing the knobs 77 on the ends of the pins inwardly; the" pins '76 may be disengaged fromthe 'holes 71s'and'th'em position of the footrest 71 adjusted, whcreuponspringsf- 78 seat the pins in the proper holes;

Upward movement of the footresty 71results'1in Yrearward movement of the seat 64by reason of 'thelpivotal connections between the links 68 and hangers `tSl'and links 68 and depending members' onthe seat 64.

To adjust-the chair shown'in Figs: 5 `and'6,i.thepinsfi 76- are pulled inwardly land the foot-restff7llraisedzrwhileat-the same time the :seat 64^is movedrearwardly from-.1f

theifull line tok the dott'edi'line; position, whereupon-theft knobs 77 are released allowing the pins to seat` in'fithel'i' new holes-.1 It: will beilnotedz thatilin the modification'of Figs:- 5. andi6 thelinks 681are notic'onnectedfto thewframelw structure, but on the contrary, are merely pivotally connected 'to the seat.

In the modification shown" in Figs. 7 and 8, still an other means of moving the seat rearwardly as the footrest is raised is illustrated. The frame structure of Figs. 7 and 8 provides front and rear legs S1 and 82 which are rigidly connected to horizontal armrests S3 and backrest 84 so that a rigid structure'is provided. The seat 36 is suspended fromfour-'link's.87Yofequal length which are pivotally connected to the seat at their lower ends and pivotally connectedcto therframe structure; in' this case the armrestl 83, at lthei-rvupperiends'. As the seat J86 is swung rearwardly, it is elevated slightly but the major adjustment of the'rearwa'rdswingingl'rnovernent is the adjustment of the forward edge of the seat relative to the backrest 84.

A footrest 85 is connected to levers 91), the rear ends ofrwhich'tarewpivotally connected bytransverse rod S8 to the rear-legs 82. Links 89vconnect the seat 86 `to levers 90? Thus,l as the footrest'85 is raised and lowered,- swingingabout rod`88,links 89"'swing'the seat 86 rearwardly :and forwardlyt Various-means' ymaybe employed to lock the footrest inposition.--As shownfin the accompanying. drawings, the upperportions-of `front'legs 81l are curved aboutpivote-points 88 as '-a center and the inside of the legs are formed withtspaced` holesii92. A latch means similar lto that shown in .Figs-1 and 2 is employed, this latch means being-illustrated Iin Fig. 4.

In-fthe modificationshownf in Fig. 9, a frame similarl to that-shownin Figse? and 8 is provided comprising front andafrearlegsflfandl armrests 83 and backrest 84. Seat`86is-suspendedffrom fourlinks. The two rearmost links 96, onfopposite-isides 'of thechair, are pivotally connected-to the `rear end ofthe seat 86 and to the rear of the armrest 83.- The forwardmost links 97 comprise a U- shapejr-nember havingf'a transverse, horizontal base 98, the upperfendsf'of theU `being pivotally connected to the forward-end-ofthe armrest 831and the seat being pivotally connected-by pivots 99-to the'U at a distance spaced i downwardly from the top ends thereof equal to the length ofv rear -links=f96r Adjacent the lower ends of the vertical portions-101 of the U-shaped lirikf97 are elongated slots 102. Lever 103 which is pivoted at its `forward end to footrest 85 :and at-'its rearward end to rear legs 82 is provided-with vpins 104 whichproject through slots 102. Thus, asrthe footres't-fis raisedithe pins 104'slide in the siots 102- and move the-flower-ends of the U-shaped member 97 rearwardly-causing the seat 86=to swing rearwardly.` A-

latching-'devicefsimilar tothat shown in Figs. 7 and 8 isy provided to latchtheffootrest to holes 92 in the front legs 81o:

Althoughfttheforegoing invention has been described in some detail by way of illustration and example for-purposes of clarityl :of understanding', it is understood that certain changes `rand modifications maybe practiced within theI-spiritof fthefinvention and `scope of the vappended` claimsn.

Whatis claimed-is: t

1. In an adjustable chair, a frame, a backrest mounted onrthertop-of said frame', `a seatfmeans connecting said seatV and Isaidiframefor lmovement of said seat relative to saidframei'ia footrest moveable relative to said frame fromaloweredl to al raised position, and means connecting said footrest and-"saidseat tofmove said seat rearwardly as said -footr`est= 'is raised;

2.#Iri'far1adjustable chair,a frame, a backrest mounted` onthe top of 'said=-fr`me',"-aseat, rst means mounting said seaton'saidframe'for'forward and'rearward movement of Y saidffseat'fwhilemaintaining said seat' substantially horizontaL-'a footrest,-1second means mounting said footrest on said frame for substantially vertical movement, at least onefleverfhavin'g'a r'stlfpointfof pivotal connection with said-.seat andflafsecondpointiof pivotal connection with 4. said seo-'ond 'means tomove said seatfand'footrest in unison, 1

said levers being operable to move said first point rearwardly as said footrest is raised.

3. An adjustable chair comprising, a frame, a backrest fixed to said frame, a seat, rst means connecting said seat to said frame providing for movement of said seat forwardly and rearwardly relative to said backrest while maintaining said seat substantially horizontal, downwardly extending links connected to said seat, a footrest, second means articulately connecting said footrest with said downwardly extending links, said second means including pivotal connections with said footrest, said second means being connected to said downwardly extending links and said footrest to move the point of connection of said links with said seat rearwardly as said footrest is raised.

4. An adjustable chair comprising a frame, a backrest on said frame, a seat, means mounting said seat on said frame for substantially horizontal sliding backward and forward movement, a footrest, means adjustably securing said footrest to said frame in a plurality of positions of elevation, downward extensions of said seat, and a lever on either side of said chair, each pivotally connected to said footrest at one end and pivotally connected to one of said extensions at the other, the point of connection of said levers to said footrest moving rearwardly as said footrest is raised.

5. A chair according to claim 4 in which said levers are pivotally connected to the rear of said frame and said downward extensions are pivotally connected to said seat.

6. A chair according to claim 4 in which` said downward extensions are rigidly connected to said seat.

7. A chair according to claim 4 in which said footrest and said frame are provided with cooperating latch means, the latch means on said frame extending upwardlyrearwardly whereby said levers are moved rearwardly as said footrest is raised.

8. An adjustable chair comprising a frame, a backrest on said frame, a seat, means mounting said seat on said frame for substantially horizontal movement of said seat relative to said backrest, a footrest, a pair of first levers pivotally connected to said frame at their rear ends and connected to said footrest at their forward ends for substantially vertical swinging movement, means latching said footrest and levers in a plurality of positions of adjustment, and a pair of first links on either side of said chair pivotally connected at their upper ends to said seat and at their lower ends to corresponding levers.

9. A chair according to claim 8 in which said seat is mounted for horizontal sliding movement on said frame.

10. A chair according to claim 8 in which said firstnamed means comprises four second links of equal length pivotally connected at their upper ends to said frame and at their lower ends to said seat.

l1. A chair according to claim 10 in which said first links comprise extensions of said second links.

12. An adjustable chair comprising a frame, a backrest on said frame, a seat, four first links of equal length each pivotally connected at lone end to said frame and at the other end to said seat for forward and rearward movement of said seat relative to said backrest, a footrest, means for confining said footrest to movement in an upwardly-rearwardly extending path relative to said frame, and second links pivotally connected at one end to said seat and at the other end to said last-mentioned means to swing said seat rearwardly as said footrest is raised.

13. An adjustable chair according to claim 12 in which is further provided a pair of levers pivotally connected at their rear ends to said frame and at their forward ends to said footrest and in which said second links are connected to said levers.

14. An adjustable chair according to claim 13 in which said second links comprise downward extensions of two of said first links and said pivotal connection of said second links and said levers is a sliding connection.

References Cited inthe file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 

